Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Now ye're talking - to Christmas FM!

Options
12467

Comments

  • Options
    #92
    Jude13
    Registered Users Posts: 3,797 ✭✭✭Jude13


    Whats lined up there Ronan?


  • Options
    #93
    CheerLouth
    Registered Users Posts: 2,420 ✭✭✭CheerLouth


    Oh gosh, I'm so excited!!!!!


  • Options
    #94
    CheerLouth
    Registered Users Posts: 2,420 ✭✭✭CheerLouth


    It's beginning to look like Christmas.....first song :D


  • Options
    #95
    average_runner
    Registered Users Posts: 12,845 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    Online app not working?


  • Options
    #96
    SteJer
    Registered Users Posts: 259 ✭✭SteJer


    Is there an issue with the broadcast in Wexford? I've tried tuning in 103.8 on multiple radios but all I'm getting is static.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #97
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    AllForIt wrote: »
    You station may be a charitable organization but I'd argue if you were really charitable you's raise funds some other way that doesn't market xmas as if it were magic, cause it isn't.

    To be clear we are a non for Profit rather than a charity. The Charity Partner this year is a Children's Hospital Called Temple Street. We think they do amazing work. We want to use the airwaves and the internet to tell people about it.

    On the back of commercialism - We demand nothing back we just ask, we don't charge to tune in or listen. Many many people tune in and never donate to us or the charity. Thats not a problem, the more listeners that listen the more awareness of Temple Street Hospital that happens.

    I completely understand that Christmas and many other times of the year are stressful for people. We don't intend to add to this and as said before not participating is easy - don't volunteer and don't tune in.

    Look we are aiming to make €100,000 this year, on the back of €1,300,000 we've made in the past decade for charities. It sounds like you might have ideas on how you can raise similar fund's in other manners. I can only encourage you to take massive action and focus your attention on that to make those idea's happen. We do our best in the ways we know how and we are passionate about radio and frankly choose to enjoy Christmas.

    Its certainly not my place to offer advice in this representative capacity on Boards. But my personal philosophy is I avoid negative influences and people (regardless of their bloodline). And I find serving others makes me feel good so I do it. Even cheesier than Christmas is that when you give good vibes out there, they tend to come back. That might be the most hippiest thing I've ever said.

    An example is spending a few hours in the past being on the radio Christmas Day, instead of being with my Family. I choose to do some work to volunteer on air, because I love doing it. And I had a lovely text in from a person who was home and lonely, having a turkey sandwich and we had a great conversation. I think we made each others day and it was such a privilege being in the back ground in so many homes.

    I really hope something nice happens in the next month for you and maybe this will be a happy Christmas. And I hope you understand we are a radio station not the entire season.


  • Options
    #98
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    SteJer wrote: »
    Is there an issue with the broadcast in Wexford? I've tried tuning in 103.8 on multiple radios but all I'm getting is static.

    I couldn't get it either in South East so I downloaded the app. Got it downloaded just in the (saint) Nick of time for the first song!


  • Options
    #99
    The Specialist
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭The Specialist


    AllForIt wrote: »
    You know what. After I realized that yours is a charity organization I pm'd a mod to delete my comment. But given your response I regret that.

    There is no OFF BUTTON when it comes to xmas.

    Just today on the news I heard a report that went 'xmas is a hard and stressful time for some ppl'. It's a reality that families don't get on and at xmas they are forced to be together, serving to bring out tensions between families, not alleviate them. How on earth has it come to pass that the lovely xmas is hard on ppl? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever if one really believes in the MAGIC.

    It has come to pass because xmas is forced down ppl's throats such that if one has no interest in it one is considered an odd ball. Thats how pernicious xmas has become.

    All xmas does for ppl who are less well off or don't have the most loving stable relationships is to remind them what they don't have, some kind of idyllic life that is unattainable in their personal existance.

    I'm all for charity, but not on the back of xmas commercialism.

    You station may be a charitable organization but I'd argue if you were really charitable you's raise funds some other way that doesn't market xmas as if it were magic, cause it isn't.

    So there shouldn't be any fun or magic around Christmas time because some people might be offended by it, or some are just so miserable they don't want to see other people happy for a couple of weeks ? Get a life ffs.


  • Options
    #100
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    donkeykong5 wrote: »
    So why won't they play red empire charity single all proceeds are going to the homeless.

    You had specifically asked would i play it. Its not suitable for my Friday night show as I try to play more upbeat / cheery music for those having house parties and getting ready to go out.

    The song has been on you-tube for over a year and has very few plays (less than 2400) and its fighting for a place with songs that have over 60M you tube listens. That's not how we select them, but just to point out that we try to play the most popular best Christmas songs on Christmas FM Ireland, that have captured the publics imagination. We aren't saying our 5 different styles or tastes of Christmas music, on our 5 different radio stations to cater for different audiences, are the only styles but we have to make choices and at the moment I'm not aware that that specific song made the cut.

    Homelessness is a huge issue and we have considered a homeless charity partner this year. We've worked with Focus Ireland before and felt Temple Street Hospital was a good choice.

    I'm not sure if this is your band or you just a huge fan, but the best way I can see of trying to get the public aware of it would be to enter it into The Coca Cola Christmas FM song contest - which is where we give new songs a chance to shine. If you don't want to do that maybe get everyone you know to text in and request it, if demand is high enough we do consider that too. And ofcourse Temple Street get much needed funds from the text requests.


  • Options
    #101
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    god's toy wrote: »
    Quite clearly you rate 'Bob and Doug Sing 12 Days of Christmas' as a D rated song, As I almost never hear it, this is shocking and deserves to an A rated xmas song the world over !!!

    I'm sure i heard one of the other presenters play that last year. We have a lot of kids listening so we try not to promote beer too much:)

    Also it has to compete with Straight No Chaser...



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #102
    Cathmandooo
    Registered Users Posts: 17,324 ✭✭✭✭Cathmandooo


    Thanks Ronan to you and all the team, I'm delighted to have Christmas FM back on my radio.

    What are the different ways to donate?


  • Options
    #103
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users Posts: 8,313 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    Can you give us any idea how much you have to pay in royalties each Christmas?

    The royalties on some classical music can be extortionate I believe. How do you get round that?


  • Options
    #104
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,727 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    What happens to the Studio the other 11 months of the year?


  • Options
    #105
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Cathmandooo wrote: »
    Thanks Ronan to you and all the team, I'm delighted to have Christmas FM back on my radio.

    What are the different ways to donate?

    So you can text in a dedication which costs €2 Text XMAS followed by a space and then your message to 50300. The proceeds go directly to Temple Street or visit our website and make a donation there:

    https://www.templestreet.ie/Christmasfm/


  • Options
    #106
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Recorded this a few days ago and had hoped to have time to edit it down with other clips, but its been a busy week so here's a Studio Tour in its unedited form.



  • Options
    #107
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Gloomtastic! wrote: »
    Can you give us any idea how much you have to pay in royalties each Christmas?

    The royalties on some classical music can be extortionate I believe. How do you get round that?

    I've no idea of figures, that's looked after by someone on a higher branch of the tree than I :)

    But the reason we have corporate sponsors is because they cover the costs of running the station so that all donations can go to our charity partner.


  • Options
    #108
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Loughc wrote: »
    What happens to the Studio the other 11 months of the year?

    It's there all year round, Ballsbridge Hotel have been very generous in that way. Because it was taking a long time to put up and take down. In its previous life i think it was a supply / storage room as its out of the way.

    In the off season it gets used for the Christmas FM training courses for people wanting to do a course in Radio and maybe becoming a volunteer. We also prep some of the pre-recorded bits.

    Ofcourse it runs the online stream all year round. And then when we had the big snow in we were able to get back on air with just a days prep for our ChristMARCH revival that we had on SnowDay 2018.

    I've been thinking I might get into podcasting as the Studio would be perfect for that when not in use. In theory we could rent it out for that purpose to help fund the next year to make the coverage even better.

    So basically we are always looking for Ideas.


  • Options
    #109
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Meet some of the People at the top of the Christmas FM tree.



    Some references to posts here :)


  • Options
    #110
    Hazys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,510 ✭✭✭Hazys


    Do you have any stats on what are the most played songs? If so, what were the top 10 most played songs last year?


  • Options
    #111
    Loughc
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 24,727 Mod ✭✭✭✭Loughc


    ChristmasFM: Ronan wrote: »
    I've been thinking I might get into podcasting as the Studio would be perfect for that when not in use. In theory we could rent it out for that purpose to help fund the next year to make the coverage even better.

    That's a fantastic idea! I might finally take the plunge and setup the Boards Christmas Forum Podcast we've longed discussed previously. :pac:


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #112
    connemara man
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional West Moderators Posts: 6,773 Mod ✭✭✭✭connemara man


    What's the song you'd like to take off rotation?


  • Options
    #113
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Hazys wrote: »
    Do you have any stats on what are the most played songs? If so, what were the top 10 most played songs last year?

    So it doesn't really work in the way that if its a good song people tune in, thats more based on time of day. But we do see the upvotes on the online streaming and We see the texts coming asking for songs.

    I think nearly everyone can guess the most played songs without looking at the data... Its the typical Mariah Carey, Pogues, Shakin Stevens' etc.


  • Options
    #114
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    connemara man wrote: »
    What's the song you'd like to take off rotation?

    See the way we work isn't democratic. People volunteer for roles and then are responsible for that. As such I wouldn't ever publicly be giving anyone negative feedback on their work (nor is it my place to have unsolicited performance reviews, I'm not that high up the organisational tree) but I will say that I think, on balance they get it right and hugely appreciate how much work they put in. Garvan isn't joking in the above video where he says he barely sleeps in December, there are a massive amount of hours needed to keep the show on the road.

    The playlist person is in charge of the Brand and Sound of that station. Its not an easy job, as you can see from past posts here. People get angry if you do or don't select a particular song and you can't keep everyone happy all the time.


  • Options
    #115
    irlirishkev
    Registered Users Posts: 2,502 ✭✭✭irlirishkev


    Do you effectively have free reign over what songs you can play?

    Or are you restricted in that you get a list of songs from record companies that are fair game, and others that you need to pay extra for, if you catch my drift.

    For example:

    Blue Christmas, by Elvis Presley - Gets played a lot.
    Santa Clause is back in Town by Elvis presley - I've never heard it played.

    Or is it purely down to what you deem to be more popular/listenable.

    (Kudos on the Station btw, it's permanently tuned in over Xmas in our house!)


  • Options
    #116
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    irlirishkev wrote: »
    Do you effectively have free reign over what songs you can play?

    Or are you restricted in that you get a list of songs from record companies that are fair game, and others that you need to pay extra for, if you catch my drift.

    Record companies have no say at all. The station programmer has free reign on whats played with a few exceptions that apply to all radio stations - no swearing before 7 etc, must play a certain amount of Irish music etc. Presenters have a limited say in whats played on their program. Usually they will start with a playllst as a guide. We are trying to get away from listener controlled play lists for the majority of the time - primarily to control complaints of songs being over played.

    Many times I've just finished playing Mariah Carey (etc) 30 seconds ago and you'll get texts from people just tuned in.


  • Options
    #117
    Scarinae
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Scarinae


    Hello from a UK-based listener (until I come home to Ireland for Christmas anyway)

    Are you able to tell how much of the online streaming of Christmas FM comes from abroad?

    Is it mostly the Irish diaspora listening, or do you ever get contacted by/donations from people with no connection to Ireland somehow who heard about it somewhere and tuned in?


  • Options
    #118
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    Scarinae wrote: »
    Hello from a UK-based listener (until I come home to Ireland for Christmas anyway)

    Are you able to tell how much of the online streaming of Christmas FM comes from abroad?

    Is it mostly the Irish diaspora listening, or do you ever get contacted by/donations from people with no connection to Ireland somehow who heard about it somewhere and tuned in?

    I don't have those stats but its definitely not just Irish people. We've had loads of contacts from people all over the world. Like one year American Support Soldiers were in Afganistan during the war and contacted me during my show for a mention via the ChristmasFM.com website.

    Plenty of times people have no connection to the charity because but just like the atmosphere they make a donation to reciprocate for the little bit of happiness they got from listening in.

    What tends to happen is we get one Christmas fan or Irish ex pat that is excited about Christmas and puts on Christmas Fm in Work and then it spreads by word of mouth. We have great listenership in Australia, USA and Canada.


  • Options
    #119
    eviltwin
    Registered Users Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    What's your single biggest donation over the years?


  • Options
    #120
    ChristmasFM: Ronan
    Company Representative Posts: 80 Verified rep ✭ChristmasFM: Ronan


    eviltwin wrote: »
    What's your single biggest donation over the years?

    I'm not sure to be honest, we had one lady walk into a bank and anonymously (well first name only) donated €5000. Some companies have donated more but its usually in some form of quid-pro-quo in terms of a link up.

    I'd imagine there has been bigger ones but they might go direct to the charity rather than use our website or text line or phone line on donation day to contribute so it doesn't get counted in our totals.

    The vast bulk of the money we raise comes from small transactions and €2 text donations.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #121
    AllForIt
    Registered Users Posts: 8,269 ✭✭✭AllForIt


    It disgusts me that ppl are so charitable around the xmas period and when it's all over it's all forgotten.

    User forum banned for a week for ignoring Mod instruction. If anyone else wants to discuss the merits of Christmas/charity/commercialism - find the appropriate forum, this is not it.


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement